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Even though it’s Lagoon’s longest-operating coaster, it wasn’t the park’s first. That distinction belongs to the Scenic Railway, a side friction coaster which opened in 1907.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January 1918, newly-appointed Lagoon manager A.C. Christensen was fresh off a trip from California. He had been studying the resorts there and when he returned, he had big plans for improvements at Lagoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previously, the main draw of Lagoon was the more relaxing atmosphere of the gardens and the lake. Following the popularity of amusement parks across the country, Christensen began to introduce more rides and thrills at Lagoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first additions that year included an electric Carousel, purchased while he was in California, and the transformation of the swimming area into Waikiki Beach using trainloads of sand, also from California. For the 1919 season, the Captive Aeroplane ride was added, which swung riders out over the lake in planes suspended from a high tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Scenic Railway was demolished in 1920 and work on a newer roller coaster began in its place that fall. The station was built in about the same spot, but the new “giant” coaster would stand about 20 feet taller and extend 450 feet farther west than the Scenic Railway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What we now celebrate as Memorial Day used to be known as Decoration Day, and was observed on May 30th each year. That was also Lagoon’s traditional opening day for decades. In 1921, however, Lagoon opened a couple of days earlier on Saturday, the 28th and so did the new roller coaster, named the Lagoon Dipper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A new type roller coaster, with the famous ‘air plane dip’…furnishes all the thrills experienced in an airplane flight,” reported the Ogden Standard-Examiner<\/em>. The Salt Lake Telegram<\/em> reassured hesitant readers that while it was “full of thrills” the new coaster was “as safe as a rocking chair.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ride was actually quite a bit safer than the Scenic Railway. It included new, game-changing mechanisms developed and patented by John A. Miller and still used on coasters today. These include the upstop wheels that help cars stay on the tracks and allow for a more thrilling track design. Also, the chain dogs that keep trains from rolling backwards down the lift hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John A. Miller is credited with the design of Lagoon’s Roller Coaster, but Harry C. Baker was also involved to some degree. Baker was also an engineer and the Miller & Baker partnership from 1920-1923 became the most productive period in both of their individual careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The general contractor was Benjamin E. Smith, a Utah resident who was born in New York. As a boy he helped build the Brooklyn Bridge. Later, he moved to Colorado, which is probably when he got involved with the Colorado Coaster Construction Company that built Lagoon’s coaster. Smith was also the general contractor on the park’s first Fun House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Roller Coaster presumably doesn’t have any parts that remain from 1921. A hundred years is a long time, especially for something with so many moving parts that has to remain safe for riders. Without regular repairs and improvements, old coasters like these would probably all be gone by now. Pieces get changed out here and there over time, but the basic ride experience remains unchanged from Miller & Baker’s original design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FIRST SET OF TRAINS, 1921-1946 1920 – Manager A.C. Christensen commissioned a new roller coaster design for Lagoon in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1921 – The Lagoon Dipper opened to the public on May 28th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1923 – Concrete footings were replaced after they were damaged by flooding in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1933 – A long tunnel was added to the lift hill. It was removed sometime before 1950.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SECOND SET OF TRAINS, 1947-1953<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1947 – New streamlined cars, a new lighting system, modern loading platform and steel reinforcements for curves were added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1953 – Three-and-a-half tons of white paint were used on the structure before the season began. In the fall, a large fire on the night of November 14th destroyed the station, trains, support buildings and parts of the lift hill and brake run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n THIRD SET OF TRAINS, 1954-1974 1954 – Burned portions of the ride were rebuilt following the original design. A new station was constructed in the same location and using the same dimensions as the original. But unlike the first station, it used more fireproof materials and was designed in a modern style. The entrance was on the south side of the loading platform with a side track inside the station, on the north side. Neon lights accented the station inside and out as well as a small sign on the square column extending upward from the ticket booth in front.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTIMELINE<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Manufactured By: (see note #1)<\/em>
Cars Per Train: 3
Seating Arrangement: 3 rows of 2 riders per car
Train Capacity: 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shootthechutesDNca1940s.jpg\")
Manufactured By: National Amusement Device Compnay – Dayton, Ohio
Number Of Trains: 3
Cars Per Train: 3
Seating Arrangement: 3 rows of 2 riders per car\u00b2
Train Capacity: 18<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lagoonhistory.com\/project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/monkees1968b.gif\")